Scooter Hire in American Samoa: Where to Rent, Cost & More

Scooters can be hired on the main island of American Samoa, Tutuila LINK#D006. The good news? There's only one company to choose from, which makes your decision pretty straightforward.

Rocketeer Motors

Rocketeer Motors offers a refreshingly alternative approach to getting around Tutuila with their scooter rentals. Everything you could want, like the all-essential safety helmet and glasses, is included in the price, and they offer test rides for inexperienced riders at safe locations like the OMV or stadium area near their depot.

Scooters are well-maintained by their in-house mechanics, so we have no problem recommending these guys as a fun and reliable way to explore the island!

Rental Options

Flexibility is key, where you can rent for just a few hours, or go for days, weeks, or even months if you're planning an extended stay.

Online booking makes everything simple; just schedule your pickup date and time. They'll provide helmets and safety glasses, so you're all sorted on the safety front.

Vehicle Specifications

The scooters are 150cc BWS models. This extra power makes a real difference when tackling Tutuila's hilly terrain; something we can definitely vouch for after experiencing those steep climbs ourselves.

You'll also appreciate the under-seat storage compartments, perfect for stashing your day pack or shopping.

Delivery Service

If you're arriving by cruise ship, Rocketeer Motors offers delivery directly to the port for a reasonable fee. If multiple passengers from the same ship book together, they'll waive this fee entirely.

They also deliver to hotels and various locations around the island, making pickup incredibly convenient.

Insurance & Deposits

A US$100 deposit is required, but it's fully refundable if you return the scooter undamaged. Even if the worst happens and the scooter's totalled, you'll only lose your deposit—no additional charges, which is refreshingly fair.

The company keeps a good parts inventory for repairs, so minor issues can usually be sorted quickly.

Booking Process

The whole process is refreshingly straightforward. Book online where you'll find all the pricing details, schedule your pickup time, and pay with a card.

When you collect your scooter, you'll get your helmet and safety glasses, plus that optional test ride if you're feeling a bit nervous.

One thing to note: the company has seen increased demand from cruise ship passengers lately, which has affected their delivery procedures. We'd recommend booking as early as possible to secure your preferred pickup time.

How much does scooter hire cost in American Samoa? We’ve listed the prices for all of the expenses involved in hiring a scooter with Rockateer Motors. Note that prices are approximate and are subject to change (especially gas)!

• Scooter/day – US$16-$58 for one day (cheapest cost for longer hire periods)
• Helmet and glasses/day – FREE
• Gas/gallon– US$4.09-$4.39
• Pago Pago Port delivery/return – US$40
• Security deposit– US$100
• Credit card fee – 3-5% of the payment total.

How Much is it to Hire a Scooter for a Day in American Samoa?

The average scooter rental for just one day in American Samoa is approximately US$58 per day.

Additional mandatory costs to take into consideration:

• Fuel tank top-up at the end of your trip – Our experience shows that this roughly comes to US$2 if travelling approximately 35 mi (57 km), such as a trip from Pago Pago to the west side of Tutuila and back again.

Total: Combining all the costs above, you can expect to pay US$60 for your transportation in American Samoa for one day on a scooter. This does not include any additional services like vehicle delivery, credit card fees, etc.

How Much is it to Hire a Scooter for Five Days in American Samoa?

The average scooter rental in American Samoa is approximately US$185 for five days (that’s US$37 per day for a 5 day hire)

Additional mandatory costs to take into consideration:

• Fuel tank top-up at the end of your trip – Our experience shows that this roughly comes to US$9-$10 if travelling approximately 175 mi (285 km) around Tutuila.

Total: Combining all the costs above, you can expect to pay US$195 for your transportation in American Samoa for 5 days on a scooter. This does not include any additional services like vehicle delivery, credit card fees, etc.

How Much is it to Hire a Scooter for a Week in American Samoa?

The average scooter rental in American Samoa is approximately US$224 for seven days (that’s US$32 per day for a 7 day hire).

Additional mandatory costs to take into consideration:

• Fuel tank top-up at the end of your trip – Our experience shows that this roughly comes to US$13-$14 if travelling approximately 245 mi (399 km) around Tutuila.

Total: Combining all the costs above, you can expect to pay US$238 for your transportation in American Samoa for seven days on a scooter. This does not include any additional services like vehicle delivery, credit card fees, etc.

Scooters are so easy to ride, and that’s one of the reasons why they are a favoured method to get around for visitors. However, if you haven’t ridden a scooter before, then let’s relieve some of the unknown: how do you ride a scooter?

Your rental scooter will have a side stand or a centre stand to, you know, stop the bike from toppling over. Hold onto the handlebars, relieve the pressure from the side stand and kick the side stand up. If it’s on a centre stand, simply sit on the bike and roll the bike forward until the bike is off the stand.

Get to grips with where the controls are. You should have the indicators within reach of one thumb: flick left to indicate left, right to indicate right and press to stop the indicators. Within reach of your other thumb, you should have a button or switch for your hazard lights.

Behind the handlebars are your brakes, just like a pushbike, to pull in order to slow down. One of your handlebars will twist, which is your throttle and gets your scooter moving!

Rocketeer Motors will show you how to start the engine, depending on the model you have. Usually, it’s just a key-in-and-twist sort of job. They will also show you how to refuel your scooter – if they don’t, just ask if you’re unsure! You can find the gas stations listed in Information, Shops & Services in Pago Pago & Tutuila LINK#D007.

They will also allow you to have a test drive, which is usually in the quiet areas around the Veterans' Memorial Stadium, where Rockateer Motors is based (the first exit south of the stadium), or at the OMV (Office of Motor Vehicles), which has a little test drive area just down the road from the stadium.

And it’s that simple!

The Road Rules of American Samoa

It’s all well and good knowing how to ride a scooter, but you will also need to know the basic road rules of American Samoa in order to keep yourself and others safe. The main rules you need to know are:

• Drive on the right side of the road.
• It is legal and mandatory to wear a helmet when riding a scooter in American Samoa.
• The maximum speed limit is 30 mph (48 kph), with lower limits in villages and residential areas (typically 20-25 mph) - signs usually indicate the speed limit in a given area.
• At roundabouts, give way to vehicles that have already engaged with the roundabout.
• You may only overtake on the right if the vehicle in front is turning left or if there’s plenty of space on a wide one-way road with no parked cars.
• If another car is overtaking you, you must move right slightly if safe to help them pass, and you must not speed up while they’re overtaking.
• When turning left, you must give way to vehicles approaching from the opposite direction that are turning right.
• All vehicles must stop for school buses when they display flashing lights, from either direction, and stay stopped until the lights turn off or the driver signals you to proceed.

Common Hazards & Safety Tips

While riding a scooter is generally safe, there are a few hazards you'll want to keep in mind during your adventures.

• Dogs are probably the most common challenge you'll face on the roads. These territorial pups have a particular fascination with vehicle tyres (something about the scent, apparently) and may give chase when you pass by.
• Loose gravel can catch you off guard, especially on turns, where it causes your wheels to slide unexpectedly.
• Flooding affects certain low-lying areas during heavy rain, so it's worth checking weather conditions before heading out.
• Potholes and speed bumps are scattered throughout the roads, so keep your eyes peeled.

Here's our top tip for dealing with dogs, something we've learned from experience: keep riding straight when they approach. We know it's tempting to swerve away, but this actually caused a serious accident recently.

The good news? Dogs lose interest quickly if you maintain your course and don't give them the chase they're looking for.

You can learn more about the state of the roads in American Samoa in How to Drive in American Samoa + 15 Road Rules You Need to Know.